​In honor of the NYC Marathon this past Sunday and the 50,000+ runners with stiff legs this week, here are the results from a few studies featuring the positive effects of tart cherry juice on aiding the recovery of sore muscles.

Note that in all studies, participants consumed cherry juice for a few days before and after exercise. Perhaps something to consider for the next big race?

Conclusions:Montmorency cherry juice consumption improved the recovery of isometric muscle strength after intensive exercise perhaps owing to the attenuation of the oxidative damage induced by the damaging exercise.

Conclusions:The cherry juice appears to provide a viable means to aid recovery following strenuous exercise by increasing total antioxidative capacity, reducing inflammation, lipid peroxidation and so aiding in the recovery of muscle function.

Conclusions:These data show efficacy for this cherry juice in decreasing some of the symptoms of exercise induced muscle damage. Most notably, strength loss averaged over the four days after eccentric exercise was 22% with the placebo but only 4% with the cherry juice.